What to Do (and Not to Do) When Your Child Is Struggling in School

School struggles manifest in several ways. These signs can include kids having bad grades and facing peer problems. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is not only kids who will have a hard time dealing with these issues. These struggles can stress out their parents as well.

As a parent, you can feel lost once you recognize that your kids are struggling in school. Normally, you want to fix the problem before it becomes worse. But the big question is: How can you help them?

Here are some things you should do if your little one is struggling at school:

1. Identify what your child’s problem is

You must get to the root of the issue by talking openly to your child. Ask him what his problems or worries are. By understanding what and where the problems are coming from, you and your child can confront and fix them.

Never assume that you already know the cause of the problem. It may only seem like your child is not focusing on school work, or is just resisting, or he doesn’t understand some addition, subtraction, and other basic math terms. However, this could also be a symptom of a deeper issue. So pay attention and observe your child to pinpoint the exact problem.

2. Set up an official study area at home

You need to build a comfortable study area at home where your child will have easy access to all the things he needs to complete school assignments and projects. Make sure that the station is customized based on the interests and needs of your little one.

Avoid letting your child do his homework in front of the television or while playing games. Remember that students who are distracted by different external factors take more time to complete their work. Furthermore, they don’t work at full capacity and may not fully comprehend the lesson being studied.

3. Foster open communication

Ask your child specific questions concerning his day at school based on what you know is going on in his classes. For instance, ask about how easy or difficult a recent test was, or what he did during recess time. It is crucial for you to foster open communication with your child because this will show that he can approach you and talk to you without having to fear being reprimanded.

However, avoid asking your youngster “How was your day at school?” without follow-up queries about what he actually does during class hours. Most children will just say “fine” if they are posed with such a question and leave it at that, even when they are struggling in some of their subjects like math and science.

4. Create a study routine together

Ask your little one what time he wants to do his homework. Creating a routine together offers several benefits, including creating a study routine that meets your child’s preferences and strengths, and making him feel that his opinion or suggestion is valued. This, in turn, can lead to higher work quality and a happier student.

Avoid tightening up homework rules. One example is setting a specific time when his homework should already be done. Remember that when the current rules are not working to your child’s benefit, the quality of his work can become compromised.

5. Get professional support

Getting your child some one-on-one tutoring services outside school is one of the best ways to help him gain a better understanding of the different concepts at school.

The biggest benefit of hiring a tutor is that your child will experience the positive impact from the tutor’s knowledge and level of professionalism. You can take advantage of the free tutoring services offered by local organizations, but if your budget allows, consider getting a professional tutor for your child. Choose a tutor who has an extensive background in teaching.

Aside from tutoring services, you can also enroll your child in educational camps. Summer or spring camps, for example, will not just help your child learn the basics of unitary method and simple integrals, or master English creative writing. Camps can also provide children opportunities to participate in more hands-on activities such as aeromodelling, 3D printing, robotics, chess and programming.

And the best part about these events? Kids will often be too busy having fun that they won’t even notice that they are learning, and learning important concepts at that.

If your child is noticeably struggling at school, make sure you give him the help and support he needs. To make sure that you understand what is going on, sit down and have honest conversations with your child and encourage him to tell you what his concerns are.

Once you know the particular areas where your child is having a hard time in, give him key resources that will allow him to understand and become better at these subjects or topics. It is also crucial that you get to the bottom of your little one’s problems early on to prevent these issues from reoccurring.

AUTHOR BIO

Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.